T-Mobile and 3, slightly advantaged by the European iPhone

If Apple starts the European version of the iPhone with some 3G capabilities — as it is already rumored –, the two most likely beneficiaries would be Hutchinson Whampoa’s mobile operator 3, and T-Mobile, the NY Times reports.

Both companies have 3G licenses in several European countries. 3’s network covers Austria, Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Sweden while T-Mobile waves blankets to Austria, Britain and Germany.

Besides their network, those companies will be more favored by the iPhone because they are “the most forward-thinking in how 3G telephones should be brought to consumers,” explained a mobile phone analyst for Gartner. Three already smelled the evolution of the market. Last September, the operator issued the X-Series offering that includes Skype (through the iSkoot gateway), Slingbox or Windows Live Messenger among other services.

But if 3 and T-Mobile would be the beneficiaries of the Apple cellphone, how would react their competition? Said differently, will the iPhone boost the adoption of 3G services in Europe? What do you think.